I’m the Youngest Daughter of the Serpent Family
Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Having never once stepped outside the mansion, the envy in my voice was inevitable.
“Once you grow a little bigger, you'll be able to go out with us.”
“Weally?”
“Though the border is probably out of the question. The Lord dotes on you so terribly, he'd never permit it. ……Ah, or would he?”
Mesis stroked his chin and murmured,
“Maybe he'd order the surrounding area cleared out just to make it nice for sightseeing.”
A wave of anxiety washed over me at his deadpan expression and tone.
What if it actually happened just as he said? I hurriedly shook my head.
“No. Iwing doesn't wanna go at all!”
“You just said you wanted to go earlier.”
“Nuh-uh!”
If there was one thing I knew, it was that causing trouble at the border would do no good at all.
I could also roughly guess just how strong Mesis was, being someone assigned to guard such a critical region.
The thought of an entire group of people like Mesis raising hell at the border on Kaid's orders made any desire to visit vanish clean away.
As I repeatedly shook my head in refusal, Mesis clicked his tongue in regret.
“Is that so? What a shame. Everyone wanted to see you, young lady. Only a few of us came as representatives, you see.”
“Dere's more besides Kawuma and Mesis?”
“Do you want to know?”
“Ung.”
I wanted to know so badly. I was insanely curious. When I eagerly leaned forward, Mesis broke into a bright smile.
“Shall I tell you just a little bit?”
I nodded. Mesis leaned in close to whisper in my ear.
The moment Mesis was about to speak, a sweet, fragrant scent pierced my nose.
What is this scent?
As I stretched my body forward toward where the fragrance was drifting from, Mesis pulled away with surprising swiftness.
When I looked at him in bewilderment, an awkward smile crossed his face.
“You seem to have sensed my pheromones, but you must not try to sniff them like that, young lady.”
“Ung? Why?”
Was this considered rude between beastfolk?
Since I wasn't used to proper etiquette yet, maybe I had made a blunder.
Just as I was fretting over whether I should apologize, Rosaria explained.
“It is because Mesis is particularly specialized in poison, even among our clan.”
“Poison? Mesis has poison?”
When I asked in a hurry at the unexpected reason, Mesis wore an expression that said it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“Well, that's something we're all born with.”
Good heavens. Does that mean every single clan member I see every day is harboring poison?
But this was the first time I had ever smelled a scent like this.
I looked at Rosaria beside me. No way…….
“Wosawia has it too?”
“Indeed I do. It is our most formidable weapon for survival, after all.”
“I didn't know……”
“That is because everyone has been careful. It would be a catastrophe if Irene-nim were to be poisoned, wouldn't it?”
It was the most astonishing, shocking thing I had heard lately.
Truthfully, I had anticipated it to some degree, but hearing a direct confirmation gave it a whole new weight.
I realized just how cautious everyone around me had been all this time.
“Irene-nim has no immunity to poison. So, shall we keep a little distance while talking?”
“Ung, I'll stay wight here.”
I decided to listen dutifully to Rosaria's words.
“Mesis is being careful as well, so there is no need to worry too much.”
“Ung. Otay.”
Truly, the more I learned about the Black Mambas, the more blatantly overpowered their clan seemed.
Not only were their physical abilities extraordinary from birth, but their pheromones also easily defied all imagination.
Could everyone really use that kind of power?
“By the way, young lady, are you truly all right?”
“Ung?”
“I'm glad if you are, but…… you definitely brushed against my pheromones just now.”
Mesis asked, his expression hardening. I looked over my body, but nothing felt wrong at all.
“I'm otay.”
“I'm certain it touched you, though……”
“Aren't you mistaken, Mesis? If Irene-nim had truly touched your pheromones, there is no way she would be unhurt.”
“Is that so?”
He tilted his head, then nodded.
It seemed even the tiniest amount was dangerous. Once again, it hit home just what a terrifying place I was being raised in.
I really need to be careful from now on.
I pressed my back flush against the sofa cushion.
Finding my reaction amusing, Mesis's shoulders shook as he burst into hearty laughter.
Between his swaying white strands, the piercings clustered densely along his earlobe caught my eye.
The elaborately crafted jewels were dazzling.
Though they carried an impression slightly different from ordinary gems.
Ceasing his laughter, Mesis caught his breath and spread out his hand.
“Counting myself, there are four escort knights in total.”
“Fowur?”
“Yes. A bit much, isn't it?”
The Head of the family is so overprotective, Mesis muttered under his breath.
I silently agreed with him. Four of them.
I was surprised by the larger number than I'd expected.
So there were two more escort knights I hadn't even met yet?
Where are they all hiding and watching from?
There weren't really any decent hiding spots inside the room.
Maybe they were outside, just like Mesis had been earlier.
When I glanced toward the window, Mesis shook his head, a smile still lingering on his face.
“I hate to disappoint you, but none of them are here right now. Everyone except me is away from their posts.”
“Where did evewyone go?”
“We work on shifts, taking turns watching over you. Though we were all together during the banquet.”
Hearing that I couldn't meet them right now left me deeply disappointed.
I pouted my lips in a sullen sulk.
I wanted to see them so badly, but it seemed I could only meet them one by one in turns.
Even knowing it couldn't be helped, I still felt bummed out.
It had already been several days since the banquet ended, yet no one besides Mesis had shown their face.
“Oh my, Irene-nim. Please don't be upset.”
Reading my thoughts, Rosaria gently patted my shoulder and explained,
“They are simply busy writing letters of reflection.”
“Weflection lettews?”
“Yes. The Head of the family ordered them to.”
Come to think of it, I recalled Kaid telling everyone to submit letters of reflection.
The reason things had been so quiet was because they were all tucked away somewhere in the mansion writing them.
If I wander around here and there, wouldn't I run into them by chance?
I looked at Mesis.
He was sitting back comfortably, radiating the relaxed ease of someone who had already turned his in.
“What is it? Is there something you'd like to ask?”
“Did Mesis finish youw weflection lettew?”
“Of course.”
“When dey awe all done, can evewyone come see me?”
“Do you want to see them that quickly?”
“Ung. I wanna see dem weally soon!”
I nodded vigorously.
As I clenched both my fists tight, Mesis's gaze dropped to my hands.
The faint smile playing on his lips deepened, curving upward in a long, teasing arc.
“Well, I can't say for sure when they'll finish. Those fellows have never written a letter of reflection in their lives, so it'll probably take ages……. Honestly, I doubt they even know what a letter of reflection is.”
Mesis, who had been murmuring while tapping the sofa's armrest, glanced toward me.
As I tilted my head from side to side, a flash of mischief flitted through his deep purple eyes.
“Though, it's not as if there isn't a way.”
“What is it?”
“For that to work, there's one thing the young lady needs to do for me.”
“Me?”
Mesis pointed toward the colored pencils and crayons scattered across the desk.
Next, he gestured to a sketchbook whose corner poked out from the bookshelf.
“Would you write them a letter using those? Saying that you want to see them right away. I'll deliver it for you.”
“……Ung?”
“Who knows? Maybe they'll suddenly finish and submit their letters of reflection at terrifying speed.”
Mesis gave a bright smile.
If I really send them a letter, will they finish their work quickly and come see me?
Somehow it felt a little suspicious, but I decided to give it a try for now.
I pulled out the sketchbook.
Slinking over to my side, Mesis watched with keen interest.
What should I write?
I drew a huge heart right in the center.
“I can't wwite yet, so Wosawia has to hewp me.”
“Of course I will help you. What would you like to say?”
“Uuum.”
A message came to mind, and I spoke it clearly.
“I wanna see you soon. Iwing is waiting.”
Rosaria lightly traced the words over the heart so they would be easy for me to follow.
I traced over them with a crayon.
Filling the remaining blank spaces densely with stars, quite a respectable letter was completed.
“All done!”
“My. What a truly lovely letter.”
“You gotta dewivew dis pwopewwy!”
My chest puffed out with pride.
Mesis took the letter with an amused, subtle expression.
“This just might actually work.”